What Ohioans Think About Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Issues South Extension District...

What Ohioans Think What Ohioans Think About Food, About Food, Agriculture, and Agriculture, and Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

South Extension DistrictSouth Extension District

Jackson, OHJackson, OH

February 21, 2003February 21, 2003

Project BackgroundProject Background

Funded by OSU Extension, OARDC and the Funded by OSU Extension, OARDC and the College of FAESCollege of FAES Focus on social issues in agriculture as they relate Focus on social issues in agriculture as they relate

to the ecological paradigmto the ecological paradigm

Assistance from Dept. of Human and Assistance from Dept. of Human and Community Resource Development & Rural Community Resource Development & Rural Sociology ProgramSociology Program

Support of OSU Public Issues Education Support of OSU Public Issues Education TeamTeam

Project TeamProject Team

Department of HCRD/Rural Sociology Department of HCRD/Rural Sociology ProgramProgram Jeff Sharp, Molly Bean Smith, Bill Flinn, Jeff Sharp, Molly Bean Smith, Bill Flinn,

Mark Tucker, Sherrie WhaleyMark Tucker, Sherrie Whaley

OSU ExtensionOSU Extension Greg Davis, Jerry Thomas, Denny HallGreg Davis, Jerry Thomas, Denny Hall

MethodologyMethodology

Sample of 7,976 Ohioans selected and Sample of 7,976 Ohioans selected and stratified by 5 extension districts and metro stratified by 5 extension districts and metro core county statuscore county status

Dillman’s TDM utilized with 5 contactsDillman’s TDM utilized with 5 contacts Response rate = 55.7%Response rate = 55.7%

In this presentation: analysis reported for the In this presentation: analysis reported for the state of Ohio (weighted) and for the South state of Ohio (weighted) and for the South District (n=484)District (n=484)

Summary of the SampleSummary of the Sample

Comparison of sample to State and Comparison of sample to State and South District populations (2000 Census)South District populations (2000 Census) Close match: gender, age (over 24), Close match: gender, age (over 24),

households w/ kids, household incomeshouseholds w/ kids, household incomes Limitations: Renters, Respondents in Limitations: Renters, Respondents in

homes valued at less than $100,000, 18-24 homes valued at less than $100,000, 18-24 year oldsyear olds

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

Rural and Agricultural ConnectionsRural and Agricultural Connections Rural Consumptive BehaviorsRural Consumptive Behaviors Farmland Preservation and Land-UseFarmland Preservation and Land-Use Agriculture and the EnvironmentAgriculture and the Environment Food TopicsFood Topics

Rural and Rural and Agricultural Agricultural ConnectionsConnections

Current and Preferred Place Current and Preferred Place of Residence: South Districtof Residence: South District

0

10

20

30

40

50

Current 11 5 33 40 11

Preferred 7 6 23 46 19

City Suburb Small Country Farm

Current and Preferred Current and Preferred Place of Residence: OhioPlace of Residence: Ohio

0

10

20

30

40

Current 29 35 19 13 3

Preferred 13 29 19 31 9

City Suburb Small Country Farm

Parents ever owned or Parents ever owned or operated a farm?operated a farm?

0

10

20

30

40

50

Yes (%) 41 24

South State

Grandparents ever Grandparents ever owned or operated a owned or operated a farm?farm?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Yes (%) 65 49

South State

Approximate number of Approximate number of farmers known.farmers known.

0

20

40

60

80

South 17 58 25

State 41 44 15

None 1 to 9 10 or more

Rural Consumptive Rural Consumptive BehaviorsBehaviors

Respondents asked about Respondents asked about rural/ag consumptive rural/ag consumptive behaviorsbehaviors

Data for South District onlyData for South District only Contrasts reported where bivariate differences Contrasts reported where bivariate differences

were identifiedwere identified Place of residencePlace of residence Age (40 or less; 40-60; over 60)Age (40 or less; 40-60; over 60) Education (High school, some college, B.A., B.A.+)Education (High school, some college, B.A., B.A.+) Married/living together versus singleMarried/living together versus single Households w/ kids less than 18Households w/ kids less than 18

Q.Q. Visit a small town for Visit a small town for recreational shopping or recreational shopping or sightseeingsightseeing

6% Never6% Never 21% Seldom21% Seldom 42% Occasionally42% Occasionally 31% Frequently31% Frequently

City or Suburban resident less likely to visit City or Suburban resident less likely to visit small townsmall town

Q. Take a recreational drive Q. Take a recreational drive through the countrysidethrough the countryside


Q. Hunt or Fish?Q. Hunt or Fish?


More likely among: Country and Farm; LT 40 and 40-More likely among: Country and Farm; LT 40 and 40-60 year olds; Singles; Households w/ kids60 year olds; Singles; Households w/ kids

Double barreled question creates some interpretation Double barreled question creates some interpretation issuesissues

Q. Travel to a rural area to Q. Travel to a rural area to experience or view the experience or view the natural environment?natural environment?


Q. Hike, canoe, bicycle, or engage Q. Hike, canoe, bicycle, or engage in a similar type of outdoor in a similar type of outdoor recreation in a rural area?recreation in a rural area?


More common among: LT 40 and 40-60 year olds; More common among: LT 40 and 40-60 year olds; those with some college or more; those married or those with some college or more; those married or living together; and households w/ kidsliving together; and households w/ kids

Q. Visit a farm for social Q. Visit a farm for social or recreational reasonsor recreational reasons


More likely among: 40 years and More likely among: 40 years and younger; households w/ kidsyounger; households w/ kids

Q. Purchase farm produce or other Q. Purchase farm produce or other food items at a farmer’s market or food items at a farmer’s market or roadside stand?roadside stand?


Less common among those less than 40.Less common among those less than 40.

Farmland Farmland Preservation and Preservation and Land UseLand Use

Q.Q. Overall, farming positively Overall, farming positively contributes to the quality of contributes to the quality of life in Ohiolife in Ohio 95 % agreed or strongly agreed95 % agreed or strongly agreed

4% undecided4% undecided 1% disagreed or strongly disagreed1% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Q. Ohio’s most productive Q. Ohio’s most productive farmland should be preserved for farmland should be preserved for agriculture. agriculture.

95% agreed or strongly agreed95% agreed or strongly agreed 4% undecided4% undecided 1% disagreed or strongly disagreed1% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Q. The loss of farmland is Q. The loss of farmland is acceptable if it creates economic acceptable if it creates economic growth and new jobs in the state. growth and new jobs in the state.


Reasons for preserving farmland Reasons for preserving farmland (rated on scale of 1 to 7)(rated on scale of 1 to 7)

Reason (rank ordered)Reason (rank ordered) SouthSouth State State (ranking)(ranking)

1. Protect water quality1. Protect water quality 6.76.7 6.6(1)6.6(1)

2. Preserve for food production2. Preserve for food production 6.66.6 6.5(2)6.5(2)

3. Preserve farming way of life3. Preserve farming way of life 6.36.3 5.9(5)5.9(5)

4. Preserve natural places4. Preserve natural places 6.26.2 6.2(3)6.2(3)

5. Protect wildlife habitat5. Protect wildlife habitat 6.16.1 6.1(4)6.1(4)

6. Preserve scenic quality6. Preserve scenic quality 6.06.0 5.9(6)5.9(6)

7. Preserve rural character7. Preserve rural character 5.95.9 5.8(7)5.8(7)

8. Slow development8. Slow development 5.35.3 5.4(8)5.4(8)

9. Preserve for public use9. Preserve for public use 5.05.0 5.3(9)5.3(9)

Land-use Land-use compatibilitycompatibility

Q. Ohio farmers are generally Q. Ohio farmers are generally sensitive to the concerns of sensitive to the concerns of nonfarm neighbors. nonfarm neighbors.


Q. Farming activities that are Q. Farming activities that are offensive to nonfarm neighbors offensive to nonfarm neighbors should be restricted.should be restricted.


Stronger agreement among city residents; those over 60 Stronger agreement among city residents; those over 60

yearsyears

Agriculture and the Agriculture and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Perceived Risks to Environmental Perceived Risks to Environmental Quality Quality (Scaling: 1 = no risk; 7 = serious risk)(Scaling: 1 = no risk; 7 = serious risk)


1. Disposal of waste in landfills1. Disposal of waste in landfills 6.06.0 6.0(1)6.0(1)

2. Industrial activities2. Industrial activities 5.45.4 5.5(2)5.5(2)

3. Urban sprawl3. Urban sprawl 5.15.1 5.2(3)5.2(3)

4. Logging or Mining4. Logging or Mining 5.15.1 5.0(5)5.0(5)

5. Res. use of chemicals on lawns5. Res. use of chemicals on lawns 4.94.9 5.0(4)5.0(4)

6. Agricultural activities6. Agricultural activities 3.53.5 3.7(6)3.7(6)

Q. I trust Ohio farmers to protect Q. I trust Ohio farmers to protect the environment. the environment.


Stronger agreement among city residents, those over Stronger agreement among city residents, those over

60 years; LT high school diploma60 years; LT high school diploma

Q. Environmental protection laws Q. Environmental protection laws regulating farming practices are regulating farming practices are too stricttoo strict


Stronger agreement among city residents; those over Stronger agreement among city residents; those over

60 years; LT high school diploma60 years; LT high school diploma

Do you know of any large-scale Do you know of any large-scale poultry or livestock production poultry or livestock production facilities near where you live?facilities near where you live?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Yes (%) 23 30

South State

How concerned are you about the How concerned are you about the development of large-scale poultry development of large-scale poultry and livestock production facilities?and livestock production facilities?

0

20

40

60

South 20 50 30

State 21 51 28

Very Somewhat Not at all

Are you familiar with some of the Are you familiar with some of the issues related to large-scale issues related to large-scale poultry and livestock production poultry and livestock production facilities?facilities?

32

33

34

35

36

37

Yes (%) 36 34

South State

Select attitudes about Select attitudes about livestocklivestock

Following items from a series of eight Following items from a series of eight questions related to large scale questions related to large scale livestock and poultry facilities & two livestock and poultry facilities & two questions related to livestock and questions related to livestock and animal welfareanimal welfare

Q. Large-scale poultry and Q. Large-scale poultry and livestock production facilities in livestock production facilities in rural areas are a threat to rural rural areas are a threat to rural quality of lifequality of life

59% agreed or strongly agree59% agreed or strongly agree 19% undecided19% undecided 22% disagreed or strongly disagreed22% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Q. The environmental impact of Q. The environmental impact of large-scale livestock operations large-scale livestock operations have been greatly exaggerated.have been greatly exaggerated.


Stronger agreement among those w/ LT high school Stronger agreement among those w/ LT high school

diplomadiploma

Q. Large-scale facilities pose a Q. Large-scale facilities pose a serious threat to water and stream serious threat to water and stream qualityquality

70% agreed or strongly agree70% agreed or strongly agree 15% undecided15% undecided 15% disagreed or strongly disagreed15% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Stronger agreement among those over 60 yearsStronger agreement among those over 60 years

Food Topics (Safety, Food Topics (Safety, Local Foods, Local Foods,

Organics, Biotech)Organics, Biotech)

Q. Food is not as safe as it was 10 Q. Food is not as safe as it was 10 years ago. years ago.


Stronger agreement among city residents; under Stronger agreement among city residents; under

40 yrs; LT high school diploma40 yrs; LT high school diploma

Perceived Risks to Food Safety Perceived Risks to Food Safety (Scaling: 1 = no risk; 7 = serious risk)(Scaling: 1 = no risk; 7 = serious risk)


1. Contamination of drinking water1. Contamination of drinking water 5.45.4 5.3(2)5.3(2)

2. Pesticide residues in food2. Pesticide residues in food 5.35.3 5.3(1)5.3(1)

3. Terrorist attacks on food supply3. Terrorist attacks on food supply 5.35.3 5.2(5)5.2(5)

4. Growth hormones in meat or milk4. Growth hormones in meat or milk 5.35.3 5.3(3)5.3(3)

5. Bacterial contamination5. Bacterial contamination 5.35.3 5.2(4)5.2(4)

6. Mad cow disease6. Mad cow disease 4.74.7 4.7(6)4.7(6)

7. Genetically modified foods7. Genetically modified foods 4.64.6 4.6(7)4.6(7)

Trust in Sources of Environmental Trust in Sources of Environmental and Food Safety Informationand Food Safety Information(Scaling: 1 = no trust; 5 = High trust)(Scaling: 1 = no trust; 5 = High trust)


1. Farmer or Grower1. Farmer or Grower 3.93.9 3.7(3)3.7(3)

2. Physician or other health professionals2. Physician or other health professionals 3.93.9 3.9(1)3.9(1)

3. Friends of Family3. Friends of Family 3.83.8 3.5(7)3.5(7)

4. U.S. Dept. of Ag.4. U.S. Dept. of Ag. 3.83.8 3.6(4)3.6(4)

5. Extension educator/agent5. Extension educator/agent 3.63.6 3.6(5)3.6(5)

6. U.S. FDA6. U.S. FDA 3.63.6 3.5(6)3.5(6)

7. University Scientist7. University Scientist 3.63.6 3.7(2)3.7(2)

8. U.S. EPA8. U.S. EPA 3.53.5 3.5(8)3.5(8)

9. Consumer advocacy group9. Consumer advocacy group 3.23.2 3.3(9)3.3(9)

Q. I consider imported foods as Q. I consider imported foods as safe as those produced in the U.S. safe as those produced in the U.S.


Stronger agreement among city residentsStronger agreement among city residents

Q. When given a choice, I prefer to Q. When given a choice, I prefer to buy foods produced locally. buy foods produced locally.



Q. Organic foods are safer than Q. Organic foods are safer than conventionally produced foods. conventionally produced foods.


Q. Biotechnology is having a Q. Biotechnology is having a negative impact on food safety. negative impact on food safety.


Stronger agreement among those w/LT high school Stronger agreement among those w/LT high school diploma; singlesdiploma; singles

Q. The use of biotechnology in Q. The use of biotechnology in agriculture is having a positive agriculture is having a positive impact on the environment. impact on the environment.



Goals for Future Food, Goals for Future Food, Ag., Env. ResearchAg., Env. Research

Research Goal South Maintain and improve ground and surface water quality 6.6 Create opportunities to buy fresh, locally grown foods 6.3 Preserve family farms 6.3 Reduce soil erosion 6.3 Increase farm profitability 6.2 Improve the quality of food 6.0 Reduce the cost of food to consumers 5.9 Minimize the use of agri-chemicals 5.8 Develop farming practices sensitive to nonfarm neighbors 5.4 Increase the availability of organically produced foods 5.1 Reduce government support of farming 4.6 Scale ranges from 1 to 7 with 1=not important and 7=very important

What Ohioans Think About Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Issues South Extension District...

Documents

Transcript of What Ohioans Think About Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Issues South Extension District...